Fastener



E. KERN I 2,264,984

FASTENER Filed Feb. l, 1940 Patented Dec. 2, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT QEFICE FASTENER Emil Kern, Long Island City, N. Y.

Application February 1, 1940, Serial No. 316,755

7 Claims.

The invention relates to improvements in fasteners and more particularly to a novelly constructed compressor of the type to co-operate with prongs on an associated base to bind papers securely in a file.

An object of the invention is to provide a compressor with an improved slidably mounted latch to detachably hold the prongs of a base in a bent down position over the compressor.

Another object is to provide a fastener compressor with a slidable latch embodying structural details adapting it to effectively secure but not conceal prongs bent over the top face of said compressor.

Another object is to provide a fastener compressor with a slidable lat'ch having Vend portions movable into a position overlying prongs bent down over the top of said compressor, and with means to limit movement of said latch.

Another object is to provide a fastener compressor of the character described which is not expensive to manufacture and which is easy to operate and efficient in use.

The foregoing and such other objects of the invention as will appear hereinafter as the description proceeds will be more readily understood from a perusal of the following specification, in which reference is made to the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a plan View showing the compressor in use, and illustrating, in broken lines, the latch in an ineffective position.

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

The fastener includes a base Il having prongs I2 at its ends arranged to be threaded through aligned apertures in a stack of papers I3 when the base is laid flat against the bottom of the stack. A compressor I4 is placed over the top of the stack and preferably has recessed ends I5 each to receive one prong I2. The prongs then are bent down inwardly towards each other against the top face of the compressor to securely bind the papers.

As shown, the compressor I4 preferably is formed from a strip of stiff sheet material and has its longitudinal margins I6 folded upwardly and then inwardly to reinforce the strip and to provide longitudinal guideways. It should be observed that the said guideways also define a longitudinal central channel in the top face of the compressor to receive the bent prongs. The guideways are however, primarily adapted to slidingly receive the longitudinal side portions I'I of a substantially rectangular loop of stiff wire or the like I8. The loop I8 is shorter than the compressor so that, when in the position shown in full lines in Fig. l, one of its two transverse end portions I9 which bridge the channel, overlies each prong I2, thus holding said prongs in their bent positions. Sliding of the loop longitudinally in either direction (as shown in broken lines) positions the end portions I9 off the prongs. The prongs may then be raised into a substantially vertical position for removal of the compressor.

A stop 2l preferably formed in at least one of the margins I6 by striking a portion thereof downwardly, limits sliding movement of the loop in either direction into its ineffective position. An offset 22 preferably is formed on each transverse end portion I9 to facilitate finger engagement of the loop.

Obviously the improved compressor structure embodies simple but effective means for holding the prongs tightly against the top face of the compressor, and it is to be understood that features of the present disclosure may be varied in structural detail and arrangement without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A fastener compressor` comprising, in combination, an elongated plate adapted to receive prongs bent down over its face one inwardly from each end, longitudinal guideways on said plate, and a substantially rectangular loop on said plate having longitudinal side portions arranged in said guideways and end portions bridging said plate between said guideways, said loop being longitudinally slidable on said plate to position said end portions over the prongs.

2. A fastener compressor comprising, in combination, an elongated plate adapted to receive prongs bent down over its face one inwardly from each end, longitudinal guideways on said plate, and a substantially rectangular loop on said plate having longitudinal side portions and transverse end portions, said side portions being mounted in said guideways with the end portions bridging said plate between said guideways, said loop being longitudinally slidable on said plate to position said ends over the prongs, and a stop on said plate to limit sliding of said loop.

3. A fastener compressor comprising, in combination, an elongated plate adapted to receive prongs bent down over its face one inwardly from each end, longitudinal guideways on said plate, and a substantially rectangular loop on said Cil adapted to overly and retain said prongs bent,

said frame consisting of a substantially rectangular loop having longitudinal side portions and transverse end portions, said side portions being slidable in said guide-ways and the end portions bridging the channel, and an offset projection on at least one of said end portions to facilitate finger engagement of said frame whereby the latter may be shifted longitudinally to position both portions over or both of said portions oi from an underlying prong.

5. A fastener compressor comprising, in combination, an elongated plate having a longitudinal channel therein adapted to receive prongs bent down inwardly from each end, elevated iiangesV defining guideways on the longitudinal edges of said plate, a frame adapted to overly o and retain said prongs bent, said frame consisting of a substantially rectangular loop having longitudinal side portions and connecting end portions bridging said channel, said loop being longitudinally slidable in said guideways to posif tion both end portions over or both of said portions off from an underlying prong, and a stop in said plate to limit sliding and prevent removal of said frame.

6. A fastener lcompressor comprising, in combination, an elongated plate having a longitudinal channel therein adapted to receive prongs bent down inwardly from each end, guideways on the longitudinal edges of said plate, a frame consisting of a substantially rectangular loop having longitudinal side portions and transverse end portions, said side portions being slidable in said guideways and the end portions bridging said channel, an offset on at least one of said end portions to facilitate nger engagement of said frame whereby the latter may be shifted longitudinally to position both end portions over or both of said portions off from the underlying prong, and a stop on said plate engageable by either of said end portions to limit sliding movement of the frame.

7. A fastener compressor comprising, in combination, an elongated plate, longitudinal guideways on opposed edges of said plate `defining a longitudinal channel, said plate being adapted to.

receive prongs bent downwardly from each end into said channel, a rectangular loop having longitudinal side portions and end portions, said side portions being slideable in said guideways and the end portions bridging said channel each to overly one of said prongs when the frame is in one position of longitudinal adjustment, said frame being movable longitudinally in either direction to position said end portions olf from over both of said prongs whereby the prongs may be straightened, and a stop in at least one guideway to limit sliding of the frame to one half the length of the compressor.

EMIL KERN. 

